News

August 10, 2017

Announcing....

ANNUAL BERNARD HAMILTON ESSAY PRIZE

In honour of the former president and current honorary president of the SSCLE, Professor Bernard Hamilton, and in recognition of his enormous contribution to the society and support of young scholars, the SSCLE will award an annual essay prize.

The Rules

· The essay should be on any aspect of history, art history or archaeology of the Crusader period or otherwise relating to Crusader studies.

· Any current doctoral student, or an individual who is within two years of receiving their doctorate is eligible to enter the competition.

· The essay, excluding references and bibliography must not normally exceed 6,000 words and must conform with the editorial requirements of the SSCLE journal Crusades (available on the SSCLE webpage and in the Bulletin/Journal)).

· Essays submitted elsewhere for competitions or publication will not be eligible for the prize.

· The essays must be submitted as electronic copies as an e-mail attachment, to Professor Jonathan Phillips (email: J.P.Phillips@rhul.ac.uk) the SSCLE Postgraduate Officer, by 31 December 2018 (by 1 December in subsequent years)

· Essays should be accompanied by details of the author’s name, address (including email address), institutional affiliation and degree registration.

The Decision

· The essays will be read by a jury consisting of a panel drawn from the Committee of the SSCLE and the editors of Crusades.

· The jury panel reserves the right not to award a prize in any particular year.

· The jury decision will be announced in April.

· The decision of the jury is final.

· The winner of the essay competition will have their paper put forward to Crusades where, subject to the normal procedures of satisfactory reports from two anonymous external referees (and, if required, the chance to modify, amend or improve the piece on their advice), it will be published under the title ‘Bernard Hamilton Essay Prize’.

· Names of prize winners will be posted on the SSCLE webpage and announced in the Bulletin.

August 31, 2016

Röhricht’s Regesta Revised

Introducing the online Röhricht’s Regesta Revised database

The database is a breakthrough revision in a digitized format of Reinhold Röhricht’s original Regesta regni Hierosolymitani (1893-1904).The 2016 Revised Regesta offers an expanded and corrected calendar of all the charters, other legal or formal documents and letters and inscriptions originating in the Latin East between 1098 and 1291.

All charters are rendered in English, in the hope that it will be useful to university teachers who want to introduce students to this extremely valuable range of medieval sources.

This immense project was initiated by professor Jonathan Riley-Smith of Cambridge University. It is carried on by Professor Riley-Smith in collaboration of an international scientific committee of crusades scholars

A ceremonial launching of the database took place at Cambridge University on August 15, 2016. Professor Riley-Smith, Professor Benjamin Z. Kedar, Professor Ronnie Ellenblum, and many others were in attendance.

August 31, 2016

The program and images from the 2016 SSCLE Conference in Odense, Denmark are now available. Members who wish to share additional pictures may send them to the webmaster, Thomas Madden.

June 23, 2016

Dear Members of the SSCLE,

E-mail voting for president of the Society ended on 10 June. We have waited five more days for possible arrival of postal votes that had a clear mark of having been sent before that deadline. After the recount, the results are the following:

Nominal electors (members having paid dues for 2015 or 2016): 301

Voters: 47 (16% of electors)

Distribution of votes:

Adrian Boas: 25 votes (53% of votes)

Kurt Villads Jensen: 22 votes (47% of votes)

Accordingly, the new the President of the Society is Professor Adrian Boas.

We all wish him luck and remain at his service.

With our best wishes,

Bernard Hamilton, President of SSCLE

Luis García-Guijarro, Secretary of SSCLE

May 16, 2016

LETTERS FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Dear Fellow Members,

As you are aware I have decided to run for the position of President of the SSCLE in the current elections. I have not taken the decision lightly. I believe that I will be able to contribute to the organization, to maintain and advance its development. I have had some preparation for this task, having served over the past eight years on the committee as assistant secretary. This has given me an insight into the workings and the needs of the society. If my candidacy is successful my aims will be to continue the smooth running of the society under the committee, to expand the membership, to maintain a health state of the society’s finances under the management of our treasurer, to support the work of our webpage master, the bulletin editor, and the work of our officer for the support and encouragement of postgraduates to join and participate in society activities, to continue our representation in scholarly conferences and the steady publication of our prestigious journal, Crusades. High on the order will be the preparations for the next quadrennial conference. I also will look into some new directions such as inter-conference tours, workshops and participation in fieldwork. I will be grateful if you see fit to support my candidacy.

Adrian Boas

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Dear colleagues,

It is a great honour, and a great responsibility, to be president of SSCLE. I run for election because I have bee suggested by other members to do so. I have agreed because it could be wonderful opportunity to follow closely what I going on internationally in crusading studies, and also to contribute to broaden the already impressing coverage of the society.

SSCLE is well consolidated and well functioning with regular conferences, a scientific journal, and committed members, to a larger extent than most other international societies. The main task of a new president will necessarily be to support and continue this.

Still, there are possibilities for expansion, for example within the following areas:

•More scholars from central Western Europe and from the Middle East could know about the society and get involved.

•Doctoral students and early career post docs should have the possibility of meeting regularly also between the quadrennial conferences.

•Crusade scholars can contribute significant to other fields of medieval studies, so interdisciplinary conferences could be advantageous for all.

I have been member of SSCLE for several years and since 2012 responsible for organizing the 2016 ninth quadrennial conference, in Odense in Denmark, which has given an insight in how the society functions. Also, I am leader of the largest centre for medieval studies in Scandinavia and can contribute with a large network in Northern Europe.

Kind regards

Kurt Villads Jensen

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March 16, 2016

Dear members of the SSCLE,

Article 6 a) of the Constitution states that the Officers of the Society, the President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor of the Bulletin, Webmaster and Officer for Postgraduate Members, shall each be elected for a term of four years.

Article 6 a) of the Constitution of the Society also states that the maximum term which any Officer may serve is eight years (i.e. they may only be re-elected once after their first four year term.) Three officers (the President, the Secretary, and the Bulletin Editor) have been in their posts since 2008 and so nominations of new candidates for those posts are required.

The Treasurer, Dr. Nicholas Morton, who with the agreement of the Committee, volunteered to take over that post as an emergency appointment when our previous Treasurer, Dr. Jon Porter, retired in the spring of 2015, has signified his willingness to stand for election this year.

The two other Officers, the Webmaster, Professor Thomas Madden, and the Officer for Postgraduate Members, Professor Jonathan Phillips, have completed their first four years in office and are eligible for re-election.

Members may, of course, nominate new candidates to any of those three offices if they wish.

Nominations for the appointment of new officers, or the re-election of existing officers, should be proposed and seconded by two members of the Society and be countersigned by the nominee, confirming that he/she is willing to stand. They should be sent to the President (Bernard Hamilton – bernhamilt@yahoo.com) and to the Secretary (Luis García-Guijarro – luguijar@unizar.es) -to both of them- on or before Saturday April 30th. .Members without access to IT may submit their nominations by post (the President’s and the Secretary’s addresses can be found in the latest Bulletin). Any proposal which arrives later than Aptil 30th will not be considered.

The President and Secretary will then draw up the lists of candidates and circulate voting papers to all the paid-up membership by Tuesday May 10.

Voting papers must be returned to the Secretary by Friday 10 June.

The President and the Secretary will make a joint announcement of the results to all members by June 20th.

With my very best wishes,

Luis García-Guijarro,

Secretary of the SSCLE

February 15, 2016

2016 DUES NOTICE

Dear colleagues and members,

Subscriptions to the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East for 2016 are now due. Payment entitles each member a copy of the SSCLE Bulletin #36, which contains reports concerning the society and a list of members with their contact information and activities, including recently published books and articles, papers read at conferences, dissertations in progress and indications of on-going research. If you also elect to purchase a copy of Crusades (Vol. 15 for 2016), the SSCLE’s refereed journal with articles and book reviews of interest to members, your copy of Bulletin #36 will be bound within its pages.

Further information can be found on the website at "Become a Member" or by downloading the Dues Notice.

October 29, 2015

ANNOUNCING A NEW BOOK SERIES ON MILITARY RELIGIOUS ORDERS

April 30, 2015

A LETTER FROM THE TREASURER

Dear Fellow Members,

Firstly, I would like to introduce myself to you as the new treasurer of the SSCLE. I took up this post about three weeks ago from the previous incumbent Jon Porter. Many of you will know me, but for those who don't, I am a lecturer in history at Nottingham Trent University (UK) and my research interests focus predominantly on the history of the military orders. My major publications are listed below my signature at the foot of this email.

Please find the SSCLE membership form (dues notice) for this present year by clicking "Become a Member" on the sidebar to the left. We are asking for all these forms to be returned to us by 1 June 2015 at the latest. Later forms will be accepted but we cannot guarantee your inclusion in the SSCLE bulletin. I would also like to draw your attention to the following additional points regarding this year’s SSCLE membership form.

1. The cost of membership has changed slightly, particularly for members paying in dollars and euros, to reflect changes in the exchange rate. If you pay by standing order then you may need to adjust your payment. If you have already paid in advance for several years of membership then we will not require further monies for any years for which you have already made payment, but it would be useful if you could confirm that you have done this so that I can update my records accordingly.

2. If possible we would prefer members to make payment electronically, but if you do so please can you include on your membership form the payment reference so that I can identify your payment clearly.

3. If, in conversation with other members, it transpires that another member has not received their membership form for any reason then please could you direct them to the SSCLE website where the correct form can be downloaded.

I will look forward to receiving your responses. If you have any questions or queries then I would be happy to receive them.

Warm regards,

Nic Morton

Dr Nicholas Morton

MAE Rm 316

School of Arts and Humanities

Clifton Campus

Nottingham Trent University

NG11 8NS

Tel. 0115 848 3066.

February 9, 2014

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Fellow Members,

I very much regret that there was a delay in producing volume 12 of Crusades and No. 33 of the Society's Bulletin for 2013. Unfortunately there have also been some technical problems in transmitting the list of subscribers to the publishers. You may already have received your copies, but if not you should do so within the next two weeks.

However, If you have paid your dues from 2013 and your copy of the Journal and Bulletin, (or of the Bulletin alone if you do not subscribe to the Journal), has not reached you by Monday 24 February will you please notify Professor Adrian Boas - adrianjboas@yahoo.com - and he will send a consolidated list to Ashgate Publishers to ask them to forward your copies to you. Professor Boas has kindly agreed to take on the duties of Membership Secretary in the coming year to assist the Treasurer in his work. I am very grateful to him for his willingness to help.

Please accept my sincere apologies for any inconvenience which you may have been caused.

With my cordial good wishes,

Bernard Hamilton

President.

December 20, 2013

AHRC funding for UK/EU Arts and Humanities research students

Religion and Conflict in the Medieval and Early Modern Periods

Invitation for applications to “The Centre for the Study of Religion and Confict”, History and Heritage, Nottingham Trent University

The Midlands3Cities Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) will be awarding 410 PhD studentships over a five year period to excellent research students in the Arts and Humanities. The DTP, a collaboration between Nottingham Trent, Nottingham, Birmingham, Birmingham City, Leicester and De Montfort universities, provides research candidates with cross-institutional mentoring, expert supervision, including cross-institutional supervision where appropriate, subject specific and generic training, and professional support in preparing for a career.

Within the framework of this program, the History and Heritage team at Nottingham Trent is inviting applications for PhD studentships focusing on subjects germane to the work of its Centre for the Study of Religion and Conflict. We would very much welcome applications in any areas relating to religion and conflict, which can pertain to ideological and social as well as military matter. Our members have expertise in the Crusades and the Military Orders; Reformations and Confessional societies; the Conquest of the New World and Seventeenth Century Britain. Topics might relate to, for instance:

•Religion and Warfare

•Religion and conflict in social environments and networks

•The ideology and discourse of religious conflicts

•Gender and religious conflict

•Institutions and religious conflict

We would also like to receive applications from candidates interested in exploring philosophical, pedagogical and historiographical issues relating to religion and violence. For more information about the Centre its current projects and members, please visit:

If you would like further information on these funding opportunities, please visit:

www.midlands3cities.ac.uk

or

or

contact Dr. Natasha Hodgson (natasha.hodgson@ntu.ac.uk )

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for the current round of applications is 9th Jan 2014

October 23, 2013

Announcing a New Series: Rulers of the Latin East

Publisher: Ashgate

Editors: Dr Nicholas Morton, Professor Jonathan Phillips

Academics concerned with the history of the crusades and the Latin East will be familiar with the various survey histories that have been produced for this fascinating topic. Many historians have published wide-ranging texts that either seek to make sense of the strange phenomenon that was the crusades or which shed light upon the Christian territories of the Latin East. Such panoramic works have helped to generate enormous interest in this subject, but they can only take their readers so far. Works addressing the lives of individual rulers -whether kings, queens, counts, princes or patriarchs- are less common and yet are needed if we are to achieve a more detailed understanding of this period.

Thus this series intends to address this need by stimulating a collection of political biographies upon the men and women who ruled the Latin East. These will focus in detail upon the evolving political events of this period, whilst shedding light upon more thematic issues such as: gender and marriage, intellectual life, kingship and governance, military history and Christian/Islamic relations. Historians interested in writing a monograph for this series are invited to produce a written proposal. This could be for a work upon an individual ruler, lay or ecclesiastical, or, if the sources are insufficient, for a group of rulers. To take one instance, little evidence has survived for some of the counts of Tripoli (for example) and so it might be more appropriate to study them as a group. The editors are also prepared to consider proposals for histories of leading noble families or more thematic works on aspects of kingship and rule in the Latin East.

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October 15, 2013

September 3, 2013

The Crusades Studies Forum at Saint Louis University is pleased to announce its Fall 2013 Schedule. It can be found at http://crusades.slu.edu.

August 22, 2013

The SSCLE is sponsoring sessions at the 2014 Leeds conference on the theme of Crusade and Empire.

Crusade and Empire

The general theme for the International Medieval Congress in Leeds 2014 is Empire. This may be an incentive to investigate more closely the relation between crusading and empire, from different perspectives.

The engagement in crusading of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries has been studied and commented upon both by historians working on crusading and by historians working on the Empire. This engagement was considered of immense importance by medieval contemporaries, but it was often complicated: it ‘came late’ or ‘did not conform’ to general papal policies, according to many modern interpretations. A number of issues, however, still deserves to be more fully explored; for example, whether it was more difficult for the German emperors to engage in crusading than for other European rulers; or to what extent crusading can be considered a part of imperial policy; or how crusading was adopted as a means of imperial expansion in other areas than the Middle East; or how imperial authority was strengthened by the tradition that former emperors had been protectors of Jerusalem; or from the apocalyptic tradition of the Emperor of the Last Days.

When considering this theme it should also be remembered that Crusading was of importance for several other empires in the middle ages, most notably the Byzantine empire, but also for the Spanish twelfth-century Castilian empire, for what later historians have labelled the ‘Baltic Empire’ of Scandinavian rulers in the thirteenth century, as well as for the late medieval Holy Roman Empire.

Sessions on Crusading and Empire will be sponsored by the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East. It is an organisation with c. 500 members worldwide, which has organised numerous international congresses, and has mounted sessions in Leeds every year.

We would kindly invite you to submit session proposals for Crusading and Empire for the conference in Leeds in 2014. A session lasts 90 minutes and should normally comprise three papers, each of 20 minutes. Presentations are not automatically published afterwards, but organisers of sessions may invite participants to publish their papers if they form contributions to a coherent volume.

The deadline for submitting session proposals is 30 September.

Submit at http://www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/imc2014_call.html

If you have any queries, please do contact Kurt Villads Jensen on kvj@sdu.dk

January 18, 2013

The Crusades Studies Forum at Saint Louis University is pleased to announce its Spring 2013 schedule. Speakers this semester include Michael Lower (University of Minnesota). For more information see http://crusades.slu.edu.